Improvement in removing electricity from wool in the process of manufacture



J. METOALP. WOOLBN MANUFACTURE.

No, 7,671.. Patented Sept. 24, 1850.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

, JOSEPH METOALF, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT lN REMOVING ELECTRICITY FROM WOOL IN THE PROCESS OF MANUFACTURE.

V Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 7,671, dated September 24, 1850,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnrrr METGALF, of the city and county of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Woolen Manufacture, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptiom'reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings,which form part of .this specification, and in which--- Figure 1 represents a view in perspective of my apparatus, and Fig. 2a similar view of the same as applied to a carding-machine.

It is a well-known fact that when wool is passed through a carding-machine electricity is copiously developed in its fibers, which causes them to diverge from each other. This tendency to diverge is generally counteracted by the free use of oil, of which a considerable quantity is used. As a considerable expenditure of labor and alkali is required to removethis oil, it is evident that any method by which it can be dispensed with, in whole or in part,

will effect a saving not only in the first cost of the article, but in the cost of removing it from the yarn. I

My improvement in the woolen manufacture consists in the discovery of a method of pm:

venting the divergence of the fibers of wool by electricity without the employment of oil for that purpose. This method consists in the re moval of the electricity from the wool by suitable conductors, which may beformed and arranged in various ways -to suit difi'erent circumstances.

To exemplify the manner in which my discovery can be reduced to practice, I will pro ceed to describe the manner in-which a rotary conductor may be constructed and applied'to remove electricity from the rovings as they pass from a carding-machine to the spools.

This apparatus consists of a reel, A, constructed of some good conducting substance. It is symmetrical.

I formed of two heads, a a, secured toa horizontal shaft at a distance apart about equal to the width of the carding-machine to which the apparatus is mainly to be applied. These heads are connected by rods 12, between which pointed spines 0 are projected from the shaft. Thclatter terminates at each extremity in journals which turn in bearings supported'on conducting-standards B B,which convey the electricity to the ground. Orie or more of electric conductors thus constructed are interposed between the carding-machine O and the spools D, on which the rovings are to be wound, the rovings being conducted over the reel. The latter has a belt-pulley, e, secured toits shaft, and is caused to revolve by a belt at such a speed that its periphery shall move at the same speed as the rovin gs lying upon it. As

the carding progresses the electricity excited. in the fibers of the wool by the action of the carding-machine is conducted off by the rotary electric conductors before the rovin gs are spooled; and hence as the diverging force is removed the fibers lose their tendency to diverge from each other, and the roving, when wound upon the spool, is smooth, conrpact-,and

I claimas my improvement in the manufacture of woolc The removal of electricity from its fibers substantially in the manner and for. the purpose herein set forth, but irrespective of the form, arrangement, or construction of the apparatus by which such removal of electricity is effected.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOSEPH METCALF.

Witnesses:

WM. S. BARTON, CHAS. E. STAPLES. 

